McCrory's task: Bring the state together

Tuesday

Jan 22, 2013 at 12:01 AMJan 22, 2013 at 11:38 AM

When former Charlotte mayor Pat McCrory took on Beverly Perdue, North Carolina’s then-lieutenant governor, for the office of governor to succeed Mike Easley, the battle was hard fought and, in the end, a close contest.

Perdue, a former Craven County educator and former state senator who had served as Easley’s second-in-command for two terms, eventually triumphed in that 2008 election and went on to become the state’s first female governor.

Four years later, following an administration that went head-to-head with the sitting General Assembly for its final two years and a record number of gubernatorial vetoes, Perdue has retired back to private life. She has, perhaps, left her political life behind her.

In his second try, McCrory swept to victory at the ballot box, vanquishing the incumbent lieutenant governor, Walter Dalton, in the process. McCrory also returned control of the executive branch back to the Republican Party after two decades of Democratic control.

Now McCrory has his shot at fixing the state’s problems, and he has developed some interesting and constituent-friendly ideas. First among them is overhauling the state’s tax system. McCrory’s stated objective — that he will avoid raising taxes in order to resolve the state’s financial difficulties — is not only popular with voters but also the right thing to do in this era of heavy taxation, diminishing dollar values and high unemployment.

Though McCrory has an advantage that eluded Perdue these past few years, in that both houses of the legislature are in the hands of his party, the new governor needs to remember this: having a smooth, opposition-free political path is not an invitation to reign supreme.

While having a split government can lead to contentious battles and bottlenecks, having no opposition can lead to things that are just as bad and even worse.

Republicans would do well to remember that when the shoe was on the other foot, they were unable to make much impact on legislation; and it left them and their constituents frustrated and having no voice in Raleigh. It also led to bad government.

All sides of an issue have the right to be heard. Diversity of opinions can often be a very good thing. This nation’s president has been quoted as saying that elections have consequences — and they do. But there are voters who elected those into office who do not necessarily agree with the views of the predominant party. They also have a right to be heard.

In a perfect world, every issue would be worked out amicably and without the nastiness that politics often imbue. As this state readies to meet crisis after crisis, it would be prudent to recall that we really are all in this together.

We are Republicans, Democrats, independents and “others” — but Tar Heels every one.